The Perilous Journey

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Andrea's face became creased with worry, her long blond hair whipped across her face in the breeze as it tore through the firs. If not for the danger it held, the day would have been beautiful, and pleasant. Andrea's instincts told her that Benjamin's little brother David would not make it through the night. She fought against the wind that tried to take the rope from her hand. In the bighting cold Andrea at last released the knot. The horse was free of the long, moss-covered, split rail fence.

In one jump she found herself on his back. Not in all her wildest dreams had she ever dreamed of riding to save her best friend’s life! David's temperature had not been normal all day, but not until tonight had it become so high. His little body was red all over, while his mother did her best to cool him with water from the creek. Even though it was very cold it still would not save him.

A mad passion drove Andrea to ride harder than ever before. She would not see David in the grave. Not if she had to die to save him. She also knew that Benjamin would love her all the more if she saved him. But of course she would never admit that it was one of her reasons for offering to make the long journey.

Even though she had ridden the path many times and knew all the surroundings, she did not know what lay ahead. Not a hundred journeys on this path would have prepared her. Robbers lay in wait for a beautiful prey!

Now, don't get me wrong. This doesn't have to be a romance... That could just be an aside while, who knows, the kingdom goes to war, there is treachery and betrayal in the court, or whatever. just a little note :)

Because no one has gone further...

When Andrea was too small to remember a wave of the Black Death crossed the kingdom. As you might have guessed her father died as well as many members of her family, close and distant. When the plague ended she and her mother were alone, with only a milk cow and several chickens to live on. Andrea grew up feeding chickens, milking cows, and sewing. Unfortunately for Andrea, she lost her mother at the age of 12. A mad man had escaped the castle jail just before he was to be executed. Andrea was in the back garden, when she heard a scream. She rushed in and found her mother with a knife in her heart. It was later discovered that the mad man had been the culprit. Because of her predicament her kind-hearted neighbors took her in. Since it was the family trade Andrea began to learn how to take care of the sick and wounded.

Of course you now understand that she lived with Benjamin's family from the time she was twelve. He was a sort of brother at first, but then she saw more in his teasing than just playing, she knew that he liked her. When she noticed this in the beginning she was just annoyed, then it grew. One day Benjamin came home looking tired and stressed.

"What's wrong Benjamin?" his mother asked. "A rough day?"

"No, just... the nurse at the manor has had to leave town, because her mother is getting too old to live alone. I need another helper," he replied as he plopped into a chair.

"I could help! I would love to be up there in the manor with you and all those people!" Andrea suggested nearly jumping into the roof.

"Calm down Andrea," Benjamin's mother soothed, placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked at Benjamin. "What do you think? She is 14."

"That is a definite possibility," Benjamin smiled. "Really, I was hoping you would volunteer, but I didn't want to ask you."

Andrea smiled, knowing that her future was set.

For those of you who will actually look at this, I am starting a story piece. I will write several paragraphs and then you will put more onto it in comments. Eventually someone will end it. When that is done I will collect all the parts of the story and put them into one big post. Then we can go over it and edit it. Sound like fun? I hope so. Here goes:

Several strands of light, blond hair fell across her pale face as she bent down. It was hard to study the wound because of so much blood. Taking a wet cloth she brushed away as much as she could. She then stood back and whipped her hand against her forehead. Benjamin, the surgeon, stepped forward and began to work. Slowly Andrea smiled. She had done her work. After placing the cloth back in the bowl she retreated to the door and went off to wash her hands.

"Andrea! That was nice work you did back there!" Benjamin congratulated, whipping blood on his apron. "If it had not been for you that poor man would have died."

"Thank you, but you did most of it," Andrea smiled shyly.

"No, I was late. If you had not removed that arrow and bound the wound while I was gone he would have bled to death. That is what I was speaking of, not you cleaning the wound, but you did a good job with that too."

"Thank you," Andrea smiled once more. "You are a good teacher."

Benjamin smiled and walked into another room. Andrea stood watching him go with a beating heart. Even though he was five years older Andrea loved Benjamin with all her heart. He had taught her all she knew as a helper in the infirmary. When she was younger Andrea had thought of him as a brother, but now he was much more. It all started long ago...

Now you must continue the story. At this point you need to tell how they got to know each other and why they ended up where they are now. Just a side note: Benjamin is 20 right now so Andrea is 15. This is sometime before guns. You get to decide though. You should put Benjamin's age in there somewhere, but don't put Andrea's we want to be sneaky. Since Andrea is five years younger the readers can figure it out on there own. Have fun!

May your words stay sharp,

~Arya

I bet you are all wondering why I put up all of these pictures. I just think they are really cool... Now you know who's fan I am... I have some more to add. Enjoy looking at them.

~Arya

The question of Magic. Is it a force like unto gravity? Is it a force like in "Star Wars?" Are words used to preform it? Or is it unexplained?

When it is a force like gravity how does one command it? What are its limits?

If it is a force like in "Star Wars" then does it just come and go?

Because we are expecting new arrivals I would like to keep this question going just to let us all know what we are looking at.

I put it as a supernatural force that is not explained.

Think about this and add your comments.

May your words stay sharp,

~Arya